MUNSTER STRETCHING HIS CAMPAIGN DOLLARS

U.S. Rep. Sam Gejdenson, D-2nd District, has appeared to be everywhere in eastern Connecticut -- sometimes with the country's leaders at his side -- ever since his near-loss in the last election.

The seven- term incumbent has touted health care with President Clinton in Norwich, paddled the French River with Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbit to discuss the environment, talked trade with Commerce Secretary Ron Brown in Middletown, christened a Trident submarine with Navy Secretary John Dalton in Groton, and campaigned with Vice President Al Gore in Vernon.

But this isn't dumb luck. Gejdenson has paraded an army of administration officials through the dis trict to convince voters that he's an influential incumbent and to grab headlines for himself -- all the while trying to keep his chief challenger, Edward W. Munster, in his shadow.

How does a challenger compete with such a high-powered effort on behalf of an incumbent? Munster doesn't -- at least not with the same tactics.

Munster concedes he can't bring in the same money as Gejdenson -- and money is very important, since TV advertising costs a lot of money -- nor can he stage the same sort of blockbuster events.

Munster said he considered bringing in someone of the same status of a Gore or Clinton -- hinting that it was a past president, but refusing to name the person. Then, he found out the cost -- $10,000 to $15,000 for the kind of security necessary for such guests -- and decided against it. He wasn't sure if he could cover the costs with a fund- raiser, he said.

"I can't afford to take the risk," Munster said.

Munster has hosted a couple of politicians from Washington, D.C., including at least one considered high-powered in Congress. U.S. Rep. Dick Armey, a conservative Republican who is one of the top- ranking minority members in the House, was the guest at a $100-per fund-raiser. By comparision, the Gore event cost $250 per person.

And while Democratic leaders estimate that they raised as much as $50,000 from their event with Gore, Munster says he raised no more than $10,000 when Armey came. Munster said most of his fund-raisers bring in about $600 to $1,500.

Munster said it's difficult to raise much more when you're campaigning in a district that has the lowest per capita income in the state.

"It's difficult for a challenger to raise a lot of money here," he said. "As a challenger, most of the people I know are in the 2nd District. That's one of the competitive disadvantages."

At the same time, Munster claims that campaigning with Clinton, Gore or administration officials won't help Gejdenson this time around.

Munster points to polls that show Clinton's popularity ratings low -- a fact that hasn't been lost on Democratic candidates throughout the country. The polls look so bad to some Democrats that they have stayed away from Clinton this campaign. Even some state Democratic political leaders say that bringing in the bigwigs doesn't work in the 2nd District.

Gejdenson's campaign coordinator, Donna Parson, insists the administration visits have helped. "They do remind people of the partnership that's existed between Sam and the administration to be able to deliver to people in eastern Connecticut."

Parson contends that the visits were related to congressional duties, not the campaign. For example, Brown came to speak at a trade conference at Wesleyan University, and Gejdenson has worked to push a trade bill through Congress, she said.

Munster points to a poll he commissioned recently to prove that Gejdenson's popularity is not being pumped up by these visits. He said the poll showed a tight race -- with Gejdenson ahead -- but indicated Gejdenson has lower approval ratings than two years ago when Munster narrowly lost. The poll also indicated that Munster hadn't lost any name recognition since the 1992 election, he said.

Parson said the poll says nothing new; she said Gejdenson's organization knew the race would be close.

Munster said the poll indicated that an up-to-now unknown third candidate, A Connecticut Party nominee David B. Bingham, is trailing.

What Munster lacks in money, he says, he tries to make up by meeting with people on an individual and group basis.

The former state senator from Haddam spends from early morning until midnight meeting with community leaders and residents, handing out brochures, calling for donations, asking for a few minutes of a person's time, and attending fairs and barbecues. He attends at least one fund-raiser a week held at someone's home, and sometimes two or three.

He says he cannot get to all the homes in the 54 towns -- the state's largest congressional district -- but has worn out one pair of shoe soles trying.

"That's the kind of personal campaign you have to run when you have a guy who's going to spend a million dollars," he said.